If you missed the last chapter of REEF MOB, you can find it [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/222476101/0/0]here[/url], or if you need to find a previous chapter, you can find them all in the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/218618986?sort=0&page=0]Table of Contents[/url]. Please give a bump or leave a comment if you enjoy this and any other chapter! ***  [i]Patter Clank! Patter Clank![/i] The repetitive noise continues as my guard idly bounces his ball off the deck and bulkhead, ignoring me, focusing only on [i]Patter Clank! Patter Clank![/i] The noise drills behind my artificial eye and I could swear I feel it twitching. “Where’d you get that anyway?” I finally ask. “Found it,” is all the guard answers, not meeting my eyes. “What, in one of the old ships?” “Why do you care?” “Not like there’s anything else to do.” [i]Patter Clank! Patter Clank! [/i] The guard shrugs and keeps looking away pointedly. I’ve been cuffed in this cell with him for what feels like hours, but who knows how long we’ve really been here. Time plays tricks on you when all you can hear is [i]Patter Clank! Patter Clank![/i] “So when’s the boss man coming?” I ask. “Dunno,” the guard responds, bored, continuing to play with his ball. [i]Patter Clank! Patter Clank![/i] In lieu of conversation, I run our situation back through my head again: [i]All of us are prisoners of the Raptors, haven’t seen Solis or Kenedi since we got here, no one knows where we are, and I have no idea if these pilots can even be trusted. But Seren killed one of their own –[/i] I shake my head wearily – the more I try to figure things out, the more confusing everything becomes. [i]Patter Clank! Patter Clank![/i] I close my eyes and sigh deeply, trying to push down the [i]Patter Clank! Patter Clank! They’re just trying to rattle me, just trying to get – Patter Clank! Patter Clank! Patter Clank! PATTER CLANK![/i] The chains around my wrists rattle as I instinctively reach for the ball – the guard notices, catching it and looking me up and down. “Where you think you’re going?” [i]Nowhere[/i], I think dourly, but say nothing. The guard returns to his usual [i]Patter Clank! Patter –[/i] A heavy, metallic grinding interrupts the bouncing ball – with a screech, the large cell door is pulled open to reveal our esteemed hosts. “Out,” Djoz tells the guard, who smirks at me before leaving. Djoz turns back to consider me shrewdly. “Your friend’s been telling us an interesting story,” he begins, and my mind races as I try to keep my face blank. [i]What’s he told them? Did he tell them the truth or lies? How would I or them be able to know the difference?[/i] “I’m sure he finds it more interesting than you do,” I jibe casually. “That’s kinda his thing.” “And what’s your thing, Nas?” Djoz asks. “Flying around out here with a half-dead Eliksni and the Baroness’ pet – I’d love to hear the details about how such a motley crew managed to form.” “Blame Ia,” I can’t help but chuckle. “She’s the only one crazy enough to try and put us all together.” “You know I have no idea who that is, right?” “Oh yeah,” I muse. “Doesn’t matter, though. Thing is I don’t want to go back to Demeter. Don’t figure you really want to either. But unfortunately, I need to.” “Why?” “Because the Baroness has been working me like a puppet ever since I met her,” I growl, pantomiming with my hand. “She’s got something going on, and I need to find out what.” “Why?” Djoz repeats curiously. “You on a delay or something?” “You got a death wish?” Djoz retorts. I shake my head wearily. “Look, that witch nearly got me and my friends killed for nothing. She lied to us, sent us on a wild goose chase to do only she knows what – “ “And how is that different from what she’s usually like?” I peer deeply into Djoz’s eyes – there’s anger there, suspicion, and….injustice. [i]He’s not mad at me[/i], I suddenly realize. “Do you really think she sent me?” I finally ask him. He stares at me for a moment, considering me. “No,” he finally answers. “I remember you from Beta Karmanor. That was the first time you ever saw her do something like that, wasn’t it?” I nod slowly. “I wish I could say the same,” he responds. “But it was the first time she did something like that to us. We who gave up everything to serve her cause, who believed her – “ Djoz angrily curls his hand into a fist before he breathes deeply and relaxes. “Neither of us trust her,” I interject. “So instead of fighting and mistrusting each other, let’s figure out what she’s doing.” “And then what? Confront her about it?” A shiver runs down my metal spine as I remember Beta Karmanor, remember the terrifying power of the witch – “We could tell the Guardians, get them to help us and form an alliance with Vesta. Between all of us, we could – “ Djoz shakes his head. “You think that’ll be enough? If the Queen and her Techeuns attack Demeter, all that will happen is the Reef will be destroyed. Throw the Guardians into that mix and the Tower can kiss the majority of its forces goodbye.” “So what then?” I ask, rattling my chains in frustration. “We leave her to her own devices?” “No,” Djoz says solemnly. “We look to other forces for help.” I watch him shrewdly. “Who?” “What have you heard about the Jovian Houses?” “The Jovian Houses? I didn’t think there were even any left – “ “Of course there are,” Djoz interjects. “Why wouldn’t there be? The Traveler’s influence ends at the edges of our system. Beyond…” He trails off mysteriously as I contemplate his idea. [i]Could the other Fallen Houses be swayed to our side? And what would they have to be offered to tempt them?[/i] “You want to sacrifice the Reef,” I finally say, hanging my head. “Take it away from all the Awoken.” “The time of the Awoken is over,” Djoz says solemnly. “Our time here ended long ago. We were never meant to remain here, in the carcass of our former lives. We were always meant to venture beyond – this way, we no longer have to argue about it. As some from the Tower say, ‘We must leave this dead orbit.’” I think about his words. Despite the radical notion, there’s a kind of sense to them, a fatalistic acknowledgement that what we thought was a home was really our tomb. “So what’s it gonna be?” Djoz asks finally. “And what about my friend?” “The Fallen?” Djoz asks. “We could use an interpreter.” “So you really wanna do this?” “There’s no other way,” he answers. “Maybe there is,” I respond. “If we can prove Seren’s treachery – “ “It still won’t matter,” Djoz says, exasperated. “Hear me out,” I tell him calmly. “I’m not disagreeing with your end game, only how you want to leave things. I don’t want to fart in the elevator and get off on the next floor.” “What the hell does that mean?” Djoz asks, perplexed. “Old expression,” I answer. “Means I don’t wanna leave things a mess if I can help it.” “So what’s your idea then?” “Get me back to Hedon House so I can get info about what Seren’s doing. Once I’ve got it, we’ll broadcast it simultaneously to Vesta, the Tower, and any Fallen forces nearby. We can still even get help from the Jovian Houses. Seren won’t be able to hold off an attack on all fronts like that, and at least that’ll give the system a chance to keep things balanced rather than just cutting and running.” “That kind of chaos would provide some excellent cover,” Djoz says, contemplating. “And while they’re fighting, we can try to get out as many Awoken as we can,” I answer. “We can start over like you want, go out into the stars and find a new home. And if some did want to stay, at least this would give them a choice rather than an ultimatum.” Djoz contemplates the proposal, then finally crosses over to me and unlocks my cuffs. As they fall away, I rise to meet his eyes. “We’ll get you to Demeter,” he says finally. “But after that, you’re on your own.” “That’s all I need.”